SKY New Zealand pulls Sky News Australia from its platform after it aired disturbing footage of the deadly mosque shootings

Mourners pay their respects at a makeshift memorial near the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, March 16, 2019, where one of the two mass shootings occurred Friday.
AP Photo/Vincent Yu

At least 49 people were shot dead Friday in a terror attack that targeted two mosques in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. The event marks the worst mass shooting in New Zealand's history and one of the deadliest in the world.

As the attack was unfolding, a 16-minute live streamed video of the shooting was posted to Facebook, where it quickly spreadacross the platform, as well as YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. Police urged the public not to disseminate the footage further.

Sky News Australia is available via subscription in Australia and on New Zealand's SKY Network Television. Despite similar names, SKY is not affiliated with Rupert Murdoch's Sky News networks.

At least 49 people were shot dead Friday in a terror attack that targeted two mosques in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. A further 42 people were injured, including a four-year-old child in critical condition, authorities said.

The event marks the worst mass shooting in New Zealand's history and one of the deadliest in the world.

As the attack was unfolding, a 16-minute livestreamed video of the shooting was posted to Facebook, where it quickly spread across the platform, as well as YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter.

The video appears to have been shot using a helmet or body camera, and shows the gunman driving to the Al Noor Mosque before opening fire at people near the doorway. He then appears to walk indoors before shooting worshippers inside for several minutes. The gunman then leaves and gets back in his car before driving to the Linwood Mosque, some three miles away, where he opened fire again.

Police acknowledged Friday that graphic and distressing footage was circulating across the web, but urged the public not to disseminate it further. Facebook confirmed to INSIDER on Friday that it had deleted the apparent livestream from its platform and suspended the suspected shooter's profile.

In live coverage of the attack as it unfolded on Friday, Sky News Australia showed clips of the shooter's livestream footage that had spread across social media.

SKY New Zealand issued a statement about its decision to remove Sky News Australia from its platform:

"We stand in support of our fellow New Zealanders and are working with our colleagues at Sky News Australia to ensure coverage doesn't compromise ongoing investigations in New Zealand. We made the decision on Friday with Sky News Australia to replace their live news with sport," the statement reads.

According to the SKY New Zealand's Twitter page, the decision was made Friday evening. It said that all other news channels on its platform, including BBC World and CNN are still available on SKY GO.

A spokesperson for Sky News Australia told Business Insider in an email that its use of the footage was in line with other broadcasters.

"Sky News Australia in line with other broadcasters ran heavily edited footage that did not show vision inside the mosque, the shootings or the victims."

"As the live rolling events of the Christchurch shooting unfolded, an editorial decision was made by Sky News Australia to offer sports programming to SKY New Zealand in place of Sky News Australia's live feed to ensure any footage or reporting did not compromise the ongoing investigations taking place in New Zealand."